# US 2017/0282918 A1 · Hand operated auxiliary drive and retard torque control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282918 A1 - Document ID: US20170282918A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/511,334 - Filed: 2015-09-17 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-18 - Assignees: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. - Inventors: YIDAN CHANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282918A1 ## CPC - B60K 26/02: of initiating means or elements - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 10/184: with wheel brakes - B60W 30/18109: {Braking} - B60W 30/18181: {Propulsion control with common controlling member for different functions} - B60W 30/188: Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power - B60W 30/1886: {Controlling power supply to auxiliary devices} - B60K 20/06: mounted on steering column or the like - B60K 2026/029: {Joystick type control devices for acceleration} - B60W 30/14: {Adaptive} cruise control - B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position - B60W 2540/12: Brake pedal position - B60W 2555/60: Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way - B60W 2556/50: of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT ## Abstract A control system for an off-highway vehicle including a foot operated drive pedal, a foot operated retard pedal, and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control. The auxiliary drive/retard control is operable in a first state to signal a request for drive torque and a second state to signal a request for retard torque. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control system for an off-highway vehicle, comprising: a foot operated drive pedal; a foot operated retard pedal; and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control, the auxiliary drive/retard control being operable in a first state to signal a request for drive torque and a second state to signal a request for retard torque. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control is at least one of a lever, a joystick, a rotary knob, programmable push-buttons, and a touchscreen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein drive/retard request signals from at least one of the foot operated drive pedal and the foot operated retard pedal override torque/retard request signals from the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1 further comprising a memory bank that can record and recall a sequence of drive/retard request signals from at least one of the auxiliary drive/retard control, the foot operated drive pedal, and the foot operated retard pedal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control further comprises a resume function that can return at least one of the drive torque request and retard torque request to a level previously set by an operator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein a predetermined default drive torque is requested when the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control is operated in the first state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined default drive torque request is 15% of a maximum available drive torque. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined default drive torque request can be step increased or step decreased by the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein a predetermined default retard torque is requested when the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control is operated in the second state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The control system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined default retard torque request is 20% of a maximum available retard torque. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined default retard torque request can be step increased or step decreased by the hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control. ### Claim 12 A method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle comprising the steps of: providing a foot operated drive pedal, a foot operated retard pedal, and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control; operating the auxiliary drive/retard control to request drive torque; determining if the foot operated drive pedal is requesting drive torque; comparing the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request to the foot operated drive pedal drive torque request if it is determined that the foot operated drive pedal is requesting drive torque; and sending the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request if the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request is greater than the foot operated drive pedal drive torque request. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising the step of sending the foot operated drive pedal torque request if the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request is less than the foot operated drive pedal drive torque request. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: determining if the foot operated retard pedal is requesting retard torque; and canceling the auxiliary drive/retard control drive torque request if it is determined that the foot operated retard pedal is requesting retard torque. ### Claim 15 A method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle comprising the steps of: providing a foot operated drive pedal, a foot operated retard pedal, and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard control; operating the auxiliary drive/retard control to request retard torque; determining if the foot operated retard pedal is requesting retard torque; comparing the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request to the foot operated retard pedal retard torque request if it is determined that the foot operated retard pedal is requesting retard torque; and sending the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request if the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request is greater than the foot operated drive pedal retard torque request. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising the step of sending the foot operated retard pedal retard torque request if the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request is less than the foot operated retard pedal retard torque request. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: determining if the foot operated drive pedal is requesting drive torque; and canceling the auxiliary drive/retard control retard torque request if it is determined that the foot operated drive pedal is requesting drive torque. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: determining if the auxiliary drive/retard control has requested a drive torque step increase or step decrease; and sending a step increase drive torque request if it is determined that the auxiliary drive/retard control has requested a drive torque step increase. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of sending a step decrease drive torque request if it is determined that the auxiliary drive/retard control requested a drive torque step decrease. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of controlling an engine and brakes of an off-highway vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: determining if the auxiliary drive/retard control has requested a retard torque step increase or step decrease; and sending a step increase retard torque request if it is determined that the auxiliary drive/retard control has requested a retard torque step increase. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of sending a step decrease retard torque request if it is determined that the auxiliary drive/retard control requested a drive retard step decrease. ### Claim 22 A control system for an off-highway vehicle, comprising: a foot operated drive pedal; a foot operated retard pedal; a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard lever, the lever being movable to a first position to signal a request for drive torque and a second position to signal a request for retard torque, the lever having a resume function that can return at least one of the drive torque request and retard request to a level previously set by an operator; a memory bank for recording and recalling a sequence of drive/retard request signals from at least one of the lever, the foot operated drive pedal, and the foot operated retard pedal; wherein a predetermined default drive torque is requested when the lever is moved to the first position and a predetermined default retard torque is requested when the lever is moved to the second position. ### Claim 23 A control system for an off-highway vehicle, comprising: a foot operated drive pedal; a foot operated retard pedal; and a hand operated auxiliary drive/retard lever, the lever being movable to a first position to signal a request for drive torque and a second position to signal a request for retard torque. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The control system of claim 22, wherein the lever extends along a longitudinal axis and at least a part of the lever is rotatable about the longitudinal axis to step increase or step decrease the drive torque request or the retard torque request.